As PrettyLittleThing founder and chief executive Umar Kamani is inducted into the Drapers Digital Awards Hall of Fame, he talks to Drapers about creating a legacy and taking the rapidly growing business global.

Drapers Footwear Awards 19 will recognise and celebrate the footwear's very best from across the UK and Ireland.

We have 18 exciting categories up for contest, including International Footwear Business of the Year and Best Sustainable Initiative of the Year.

As PrettyLittleThing founder and chief executive Umar Kamani is inducted into the Drapers Digital Awards Hall of Fame, he talks to Drapers about creating a legacy and taking the rapidly growing business global.

In a lively discussion at today’s Drapers Next Generation event the former M&S boss said the new multichannel environment would not see the demise of physical stores - but it had given customers even more ability to call the shots.

“Shops are not going to go anywhere, it’s just what people want when they are there that will change,” he said. “If you’re not click enabled you’re a loser. You have to provide an online offering. Shops will also need to change the way they look and have the technology in them to provide the full collection and customer experience - it’s still about service, service, service.

“Remember the customer was king, now he is master of the universe.”

Rose offered one piece of advice to those starting out in retail - not to plan their career.

He said “Do your job well, make a difference and work hard and you will get noticed. It’s important to do the job you’re doing well and not to over-plan your career.”

Rose, who now works with several businesses including Fat Face, Ocado and Dressipi, claimed he “blagged” his way into his first job at M&S at the age of 23 where he was earning £1,200 a year – “and that was good money back then,” he said.

He acknowledged he had faced challenges and conflict during his career, but assured the audience “If you believe in what you believe in, you’ve got to be prepared to stand by it.”

Drapers Next Generation: Customer is master of the universe, says Sir Stuart Rose

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This week Drapers hosted its fifth Next Generation event, with some of fashion’s biggest names, including Sir Stuart Rose, Kate Bostock and Peter Ruis, talking about their career highs and lows. Here we round up all the news from the day.

Marks & Spencer CEO Steve Rowe has insisted there are “green shoots” in the business’ transformation plans, despite the retailer reporting a 9.9% drop in profit before tax and adjusting items for the year to 30 March 2019.

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